Combination radiator and condenser apparatus for motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle has inlets and outlets adapted to be connected in both a coolant system for a liquid cooled engine and in a refrigerant system of an automobile air conditioning system. The apparatus includes a plurality of axially aligned fluid flow tubes having the same air centers and the tubes each extend between combination radiator and condenser tanks, in one embodiment the axially aligned fluid flow tubes are unitary, integral fluid flow tubes with a separate refrigerant vapor passage and a separate engine coolant passage therein. A method for simultaneously cooling engine coolant and refrigerant vapor in combined radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle includes the steps directing vehicle inlet airstream through common air centers between the axially aligned refrigerant vapor tubes and vehicle coolant tubes.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/536,814, filedon June 12, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,910.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for cooling engine coolant andrefrigerant vapor in a motor vehicle having a liquid cooled engine andan air conditioning system and further to radiator apparatus havingparallel tube passes and more particularly to radiator apparatus of thetype having air centers for directing the inlet air stream of thevehicle through separate tube passes in separate radiator and condenserportions of the combination radiator and condenser apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In motor vehicle cooling systems for cooling engine coolant, refrigerantvapor and engine oil it has been desirable to locate either an oilcooler or a refrigerant condenser unit at a location upstream of theinlet surface of the radiator for removing heat from the coolant systemfor an liquid cooled engine. Examples of such systems are set forth inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,479,834 and 4,138,857.

Such location exposes the tube passes of the refrigerant condenserand/or oil cooler to ram air flow as the vehicle is driven in a forwarddirection. Furthermore, such location causes the engine fan to drawcooling air across the condenser while the vehicle is stopped or slowmoving and the engine is idling. As a consequence the condenser isoperative to condense refrigerant gas to a liquid which is then directedacross an expansion valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant into arefrigerant evaporator. A circulating fan draws air flow across theevaporator for cooling the interior or passenger compartment of a motorvehicle in a known manner. Likewise a continual flow of cooling air isdirected across the oil cooler.

While the forward or upstream location of the refrigerant condenser is afavorable location for providing continual air flow across the tubepasses of the condenser and/or oil cooler, such refrigerant condensersand oil coolers have separate air centers and the radiator has separateair centers which can cause undesirable contracttion, expansion,contraction cycles in the inlet airstream for cooling the separatecomponents of combination radiator and condenser apparatus for motorvehicles. Such pressure cycles in the inlet airstream result in anincreased pressure drop that will reduce the cooling effectiveness ofthe inlet airstream of the vehicle.

In the past such reduction in cooling effectiveness has been compensatedby providing a slightly oversized frontal area in the radiator or thecondenser could be located laterally of the radiator so as not to retardair flow therethrough. An example of a laterally offset condenser is setforth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,596.

Present vehicle design constraints have reduced the available space forsuch oversized radiators or for such offset condenser configurations.

Additionally, in future automobile air conditioning systems high costalternative refrigerants are being proposed. In order to minimize theamount of such refrigerant required to effectively cool a vehicle enginecompartment it will be desirable to reduce the size of the condenser toreduce the total volume of refrigerant in the system but withoutreducing the cooling capacity of the condenser.

In order to avoid such design constraints an object of the presentinvention is to provide a combined radiator and condenser apparatuswherein the tube passes of both the radiator and the condenser have thesame air centers for defining a single air flow path through both theradiator and the condenser which will not increase the pressure dropacross the radiator and condenser as the inlet airstream of a motorvehicle is directed thereacross.

In prior combination radiator and condenser apparatus no solution hasbeen proposed which will enable a condenser and a radiator to be locatedin limited space confines of a motor vehicle without adversely affectingthe flow of coolant air flow across one or both of the separatecondenser and radiator units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one feature of the present invention is a combinationradiator and condenser apparatus in which a single set of air centers isprovided for cooling both the radiator and the condenser as an inletairstream of a vehicle is directed thereacross.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a combinationradiator and condenser apparatus in which a plurality of unitary tubepasses are arranged to have both coolant flow and refrigerant flowtherethrough both of which flow patterns are cooled by air flow across asingle set of air centers which are common to both the radiator and thecondenser and which have substantially the same frontal flow area forreceiving inlet air stream of the vehicle without causing increases inpressure drop by contraction, expansion and contraction pressure cyclesin the inlet air stream of the vehicle.

Still another feature of the present invention is a combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle having a liquid cooledengine and an engine driven compressor in a refrigerant system for thevehicle in which high pressure refrigerant vapor from the compressordischarge is cooled by the condenser and coolant for the engine iscooled by the radiator and in which shared common unitary tube passesare provided having both coolant and refrigerant passages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplifiedunitary combination radiator and condenser apparatus having a single setof air centers for simultaneously air cooling refrigerant gas andcoolant liquid flow without increasing pressure drop thereacross causedby contraction, expansion and contraction pressure cycles in the inletairstream of the vehicle as it is directed through air centers forcooling the tube passes of the apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for combinationapparatus as set forth in the preceding object in which tube passes areconnected to the same air centers and wherein tube passes are formedwith axially aligned condenser tube segments and radiator tube segmentshaving passages for flow of refrigerant vapor and a passage for flow ofengine coolant and wherein each of flows are cooled by flow of the inletair stream of the vehicle through the same air centers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the combinedapparatus of the preceding object wherein the tube passes are unitarytubes having both refrigerant flow and coolant flow through each of theunitary tubes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the combinedapparatus of the preceding object in which the unitary tube passes havean integral divider web therein forming first and second passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for motor vehicles having unitary tubes with thesame air centers and wherein the unitary tubes have an integral dividerweb therein forming separate refrigerant flow and coolant flow passages.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an extension onthe end of each of a plurality of tube passes for communication ofspaced coolant and refrigerant passages therein with either a coolanttank or a refrigerant vapor return header space by the provision of anextension on the end of the tube passes for forming an inlet to thecoolant passage; and by the further provision of a notch on theextension forming an inlet to the refrigerant passage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide thecombination radiator and condenser apparatus of the preceding objectswherein a closed coolant tank is provided including a first headerplate; a second header plate having first portions thereon sealed to thefirst header plate and second portions thereon spaced from the firstheader plate to define a refrigerant vapor gas space therebetweenfluidly sealed from the coolant radiator tank; and wherein a pluralityof parallel unitary tube passes each have first and second passages forflow of separated fluid therethrough and each further having a tube endextension connected to the first header plate and extending therethroughin sealed relationship therewith into the coolant tank; an opening inthe tube end extension communicating the coolant tank with the firstpassage; a notched end on each of the tube passes extending through thesecond header plate; the notched end having an inlet thereincommunicating the refrigerant vapor space with the second passage; eachof the unitary tube passes extending through the second header plate andsealed relative thereto for directing vapor from the refrigerant vaporspace for flow through the inlet in the notched end and through thesecond passage.

Another feature of the present invention is an improved method forcooling refrigerant vapor flow and engine coolant flow through paralleltube passes in a combined radiator and condenser apparatus for a motorvehicle comprising the steps of providing tube passes with a refrigerantflow path and a coolant flow path; conductively extracting heatsimultaneously from the refrigerant flow path and the coolant flow pathinto a common air center element; and removing the conductivelyextracted heat from the common air center element by directing the inletair stream of the vehicle therethrough.

Another feature is to provide such an improved method for combinedcooling of refrigerant flow and engine coolant in a combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle by the additional step oflocating the refrigerant flow path in the inlet air stream upstream ofthe coolant flow path and in axial alignment therewith.

Still another feature is to provide such an improved method for combinedcooling of refrigerant flow and engine coolant in a combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle by a step of locating therefrigerant flow and coolant flow in a single tube element andconductively extracting heat by conductive heat transfer from the singletube element to a single air center element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an automobile coolant system and airconditioning system including the combination radiator and condenserapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the combination radiatorand condenser apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG.2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line4--4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of other embodiments of unitary flowtubes for use in the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the presentinvention for providing multi pass flow through the condenser portion ofa combination radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for cooling engine coolant andrefrigerant vapor in a motor vehicle having an airconditioning system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a combination radiator and condenser apparatus10 of the present invention is shown installed in the engine compartmentof a motor vehicle 12 having a liquid cooled engine 14. A coolant pump15 on the engine 14 directs liquid from the coolant passages of theengine for discharge through a radiator hose 16 which connects to aninlet fitting 18 on a radiator inlet tank 20 of the assembly 10. Anoutlet radiator hose 22 connects to an outlet fitting 24 on an outlettank 26 and to the coolant jacket inlet 27. A radiator section 25 of theapparatus 10 is provided between the tanks 20 and 26. The radiatorsection 25 has a frontal flow area for unrestricted flow of the airintake stream of the vehicle through the radiator section 25.

The combination apparatus 10 includes a condenser section 30 which isconnected to the discharge of a refrigerant compressor 32. Thecompressor 32 is driven through an electromagnetic clutch 34 by a belt36 driven from an engine pulley 38 during engine operation. Thecompressor 32 discharges refrigerant at high pressure and in gaseousvapor form through a discharge line 39 containing a muffler 40 to thecondenser section 30. In accordance with the present invention thecondenser section 30 has the same frontal flow area as that of theradiator section 25.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the radiatorsection 25 and the condenser section 30 share the same air centers forpreventing flow disturbances in the air intake stream of the vehicleacross parallel tube passes and air centers therein to be described.

High pressure refrigerant vapor condenses in the condenser section 30and the refrigerant exits the condenser section 30 at high pressure butin a liquid form through a high-pressure liquid line 42. Thehigh-pressure liquid line 42 is connected to a flow restrictor valveassembly 44 installed immediately upstream of an evaporator 46. Air isdrawn through the evaporator on the air side thereof by an electricmotor driven blower 48 and is blown at a reduced temperature into thepassenger compartment through a mode control duct system 50.

Low pressure refrigerant vapor exits the evaporator 46 through a suctionline 52 having a accumulator dehydrator unit 54 and is thence returnedvia line 55 to the suction inlet of the compressor 32. The system thusfar described is a conventional system but for the presence of thecombined condenser and radiator assembly 10 of the present invention.

In the past the condenser for such refrigerant and air conditioningsystems has been a separate unit either located in front of a rearwardlyspaced separately manufactured radiator or laterally thereof. In priorart arrangements in which the condenser is mounted in front of aradiator, air centers in the radiator are spaced from the air centers inthe condenser or the air centers of the radiator are located out of linewith the air centers of the condensers. In either case such spacing ormisalignment will cause increases in the pressure drop across thecombined apparatus as the inlet air stream of the motor vehicle isdirected therethrough.

More particularly, front mounted condensers cause the inlet air streamof the motor vehicle to contract in volume and increase in pressure asthe inlet air stream is passed through the air centers of the condenser.Following passage through the condenser air centers the air steam volumeexpands and then it again contracts in volume as it enters the aircenters of the downstream located radiator. Such volume contraction,volume expansion and volume contraction increases the pressure drop fromthe inlet side to the outlet of the combination apparatus 10 so as toreduce the cooling efficiency of the inlet air stream of the motorvehicle.

As will now be described in greater detail, the combination radiator andcondenser apparatus 10 of the present invention solves such problems bybeing mounted on a common base and by having the same air centerstransferring heat from the radiator and condenser as the inlet airstream of the motor vehicle passes thereacross. The use of a singlecommon air center element for both the radiator section 25 and thecondenser section 30 optimizes the cooling efficiency of the inlet airsteam of the vehicle.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4, the combination radiator andcondenser apparatus 10 includes a radiator tank 20 formed with spaced,outwardly bent flanges 56, 58. The flanges are captured in bent edges60a, 60b of a radiator header plate 60 to form a sealed interfacetherebetween which prevents leakage from a coolant chamber or space 62which has coolant supplied thereto from the radiator inlet 18.

A second header plate 64 is sealingly connected to the underside of eachof the bent edges 60a, 60b. The first header plate 60 has a raisedcentral portion 60c which is spaced from the second header plate 64 toform a sealed refrigerant vapor space 66 therebetween. The sealedrefrigerant vapor space 66 is connected to the discharge line 39 fromthe compressor 32 through a refrigerant fitting 68 directed through anaccess hole 69 in the rear wall 20a of the radiator tank 20. The fitting68 has a radially outwardly directed retention ring 68a thereon thatengages the inside surface 20b of the rear wall 20a. The fitting 68includes an exterior threaded surface 68b thereon outboard of the rearwall 20a. A nut 70 threadably received on the fitting 68 holds a ringgasket 72 in sealing engagement around the access hole 69 to sealcoolant in the coolant space 62. The refrigerant fitting 68 has a rightangle bend 74 therein which terminates at an integral collar 76 and asmall diameter tube extension 78. The collar 76 is brazed to the uppersurface 60d of the first header plate 60 and the tube extension isdirected through an access port 60e in the first header plate 60 so asto communicate the compressor discharge line 39 with the sealedrefrigerant vapor space 66.

The outlet tank 26 has a like pair of first and second header plates 60'and 64' to form a like coolant space 62' and sealed gas space 66'. Thecoolant space 62' communicates with the return fitting 24 and the sealedgas space 66' is communicated by a fitting 68' identical to fitting 68for connecting the sealed gas space 66' with the high pressure liquidrefrigerant line 42.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the radiator inlet tank20 and outlet tank 26 are interconnected by parallel tube passescomprised of unitary flow tubes 80 that serve as a common member forflow of both coolant and refrigerant between the coolant spaces 62, 62'and the sealed gas spaces 66, 66'. More particularly each of the unitaryflow tubes 80 is preferably formed as a straight extruded tube having anintegrally formed divider web 82 therein for separating the flow tubes80 into a refrigerant vapor passage 84 and an engine coolant passage 85.The flow tubes 80 each have a generally oval cross-section bounded by acurved outer air flow surface 86 extending from a sharp radius leadingedge 88 to a sharp radius curve trailing edge 90.

The refrigerant vapor passage 84 is located at the inlet edge 88 of thetube 80. The liquid passage 85 is located between the outlet edge 90 andthe divider web 82.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention each tube 80 hasopposite end extensions 92 thereon which fit through holes 94, 94' inthe first header plates where they are sealed by suitable means such asa brazed joint 96, 96. Additionally each of the end extensions have anopening 98, 98' for directing coolant into and out of each of the liquidpassages 85.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention each of thetubes 80 has a notched segment 100, 100' which includes an upper surface102, 102' disposed within the refrigerant vapor space 66, 66' andincluding an end opening 104, 104' for directing refrigerant gas intoand out of each of said gas passages 84.

The tubes 80 each extend through openings 106, 106' in the second headerplates 64, 64' where they are sealed by suitable seal structure such asa brazed joint 108, 108.

One advantage of the present invention is that standard air centers 110can be located in the space between each of the tubes 80 to define anair flow frontal pattern for the inlet airstream of the vehicle which isnot reduced or effected adversely by the condenser section 25 of thecombination radiator and condenser assembly 10.

If no air conditioning is desired the only change required is theelimination of the notch section on each of the tubes, the eliminationof the divider web 82 and the elimination of the fittings 68 and thesecond header plates 64, 64'. The resultant structure can be mounted inthe same fashion in the inlet air stream of a vehicle and can includethe same tube surface configuration with standard air centerstherebetween.

Operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 includes directing either faninduced or ram jet air as inlet air stream flow against the leadingedges 88 of the tubes 80. The inlet air stream is passed across the flowsurface 86 and through the common air centers 110 which are bonded tothe surface 86 for simultaneously removing heat by conductive heattransfer through the same air center element from both the radiatorsection 25 and the condenser section 30. In the case of the radiatorsection 25, heat is removed from the coolant being circulated throughthe passages 85 by flow of coolant from the radiator inlet hose 16,thence through the inlet fitting 18, the liquid space 62 thence into theoutlet tank 26 at the liquid space 62'. From space 62' the returncoolant passes through the outlet fitting 24 and the return radiatorhose 22 to the coolant jacket inlet 27. Simultaneously, if the airconditioning is turned on the electromagnetic clutch 16 is energized bysuitable control means of a conventional form well known in the art. Thecompressor 32 is thereby directly coupled to the engine output forcompressing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator 46 and discharging therefrigerant vapor into the sealed refrigerant vapor space 66. Therefrigerant vapor is then passed through the passages 82 where the vaporis cooled by direct conductive heat transfer to the common air centers110 for extracting heat from the coolant in passages in passages 85.

The conductive heat transfer for both coolant and refrigerant is fromthe tubes 80 at the outer surface 86 which enclose the side surfaces ofthe refrigerant vapor passages 82 and the coolant passages 85. Theconductive heat transfer causes the high pressure refrigerant vapor tocool and condense into high pressure liquid which is collected andexpanded across the expansion valve 44 for cooling the air flow acrossthe evaporator 46.

While the unitary flow tube 80 is shown as an extrusion with an integraldivider wall as shown in FIG. 5, it can also be a sheet tube 80' havinga divider insert 82' welded or otherwise secured therein to seal andseparate a gas passage 84' from a liquid passage 85'. Also as shown inFIG. 6, the flow tube 80 can be shaped to have a circular outer surface86'. Other geometrical outer surface configurations are alsocontemplated within the invention including triangular outer surfaceconfigurations, ovate outer surface configurations and square andrectangular outer surface configurations. While the extruded tube 80 ispreferably extruded from an easily formed material such as aluminum itis recognized that the tube can be formed from other materials such ascopper, steel or suitable plastics so long as desired heat transfercharacteristics are present therein to allow heat flow from the coolantto prevent engine overheating and heat flow from the refrigerant gas toprovide sufficient liquid condensation to supply the refrigerantcapacity for cooling at the evaporator.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a plurality of baffles 112 are provided inthe gas spaces 66, 66' of the condenser section 25 to cause therefrigerant to flow in a series, multi pass manner through the tubesections 80a-80d as shown by the flow arrows in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the method flow chart of FIG. 8, in accordance withanother aspect of the present invention an improved method is shown forcooling refrigerant vapor flow and engine coolant flow through paralleltube passes in a combined radiator and condenser apparatus for a motorvehicle. The method chart block 120 designates the step of providingtube passes with a refrigerant flow path and a coolant flow paththerein; block 122 designates the step of conductively extracting heatsimultaneously from the refrigerant flow path and the coolant flow pathinto a common air center element; and block 124 designates the step ofremoving the conductively extracted heat from the common air centerelement by directing the inlet air stream of the vehicle therethrough.

Another alternative step is designated by block 126 wherein therefrigerant flow path in the inlet air stream is provided upstream ofthe coolant flow path and in axial alignment therewith.

Still another alternative step is designated by block 128 wherein therefrigerant flow and coolant flow is provided in a single tube elementand the conductively extracted heat (block 130) is by conductive heattransfer from the single tube element to a single air center element.

Having described preferred embodiments of the combination condenser andradiator assembly of the present invention according to the presentinvention and in a particularly useful application thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the desired application andembodiments are obtained by a very compact arrangement of a few easilyassembled parts which enable a combination assembly to be used eitherfor air conditioning or non air conditioning applications. In suchpreferred constructions there is basically one common tube member whichserves to flow both coolant and refrigerant at the same time if desired.But it will be understood by those skilled in the art that theabove-described preferred embodiments are illustrative of the inventionand may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination radiator and condenser apparatusfor a motor vehicle having a plurality of parallel tube passes forcooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in an air conditioning systemfor the motor vehicle and for cooling engine coolant having air centersbonded thereto for cooling fluid flow through said parallel tube passesby directing the inlet airstream of a motor vehicle therethroughcomprising:said parallel tube passes each including a flow tube withaligned tube segments forming a refrigerant flow path and a separatecoolant flow path; pairs of said parallel tube passes having a gaptherebetween; first header means communicating with said coolant flowpaths for flow of coolant therethrough; second header means forcommunicating said refrigerant flow paths with a mechanical refrigerantsystem for directing refrigerant vapor through said refrigerant flowpaths for condensation therein; an air center element in each of saidgaps between each of said pairs of said parallel tube passes in commonheat transfer contact with both said refrigerant flow path and saidcoolant flow path; each air center element having a plurality of spacedparallel uninterrupted axial air passages therethrough in axialalignment with the inlet airstream for directing the inlet airstreaminitially only across the refrigerant flow path followed by flow of theinlet airstream only across the coolant flow path; and means bondingsaid air center element to said refrigerant flow path and said coolantflow path for conductively extracting heat simultaneously from therefrigerant flow path and from the coolant flow path into the air centerfor removal therefrom by flow of said inlet airstream through saiduninterrupted axial air passages.
 2. A combination radiator andcondenser apparatus for a motor vehicle having a plurality of paralleltube passes for cooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in an airconditioning system for the motor vehicle and for cooling engine coolanthaving air centers bonded thereto for cooling fluid flow through saidparallel tube passes by directing the inlet airstream of a motor vehicletherethrough comprising:said parallel tube passes each including a flowtube with aligned tube segments forming a refrigerant flow path and aseparate coolant flow path; pairs of said parallel tube passes having agap therebetween; first header means communicating with said coolantflow paths for flow of coolant therethrough; second header means forcommunicating said refrigerant flow paths with a mechanical refrigerantsystem for directing refrigerant vapor through said refrigerant flowpaths for condensation therein; and an air center element in each ofsaid gaps between each of said pairs of said parallel tube passes incommon heat transfer contact with both said refrigerant flow path andsaid coolant flow path; each air center element having a plurality ofspaced parallel uninterrupted axial air passages therethrough in axialalignment with the inlet airstream for directing the inlet airstreaminitially only across the refrigerant flow path followed by flow of theinlet airstream only across the coolant flow path; and means bondingsaid air center element to said refrigerant flow path and said coolantflow path for conductively extracting heat simultaneously from therefrigerant flow path and from the coolant flow path into the air centerfor removal therefrom by flow of said inlet airstream through saiduninterrupted axial air passages; each of said flow tubes being aunitary tube having a divider separating said unitary tube into saidcoolant flow path and said refrigerant flow path.
 3. A combinationradiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle having a pluralityof parallel tube passes for cooling high pressure refrigerant vapor inan air conditioning system for the motor vehicle and for cooling enginecoolant having air centers bonded thereto for cooling fluid flow throughsaid parallel tube passes by directing the inlet airstream of a motorvehicle therethrough comprising:said parallel tube passes each includinga flow tube with aligned tube segments forming a refrigerant flow pathand a separate coolant flow path; pairs of said parallel tube passeshaving a gap therebetween; first header means communicating with saidcoolant flow paths for flow of coolant therethrough; second header meansfor communicating said refrigerant flow paths with a mechanicalrefrigerant system for directing refrigerant vapor through saidrefrigerant flow paths for condensation therein; and an air centerelement in each of said gaps between each of said pairs of said paralleltube passes in common heat transfer contact with both said refrigerantflow path and said coolant flow path; each air center element having aplurality of spaced parallel uninterrupted axial air passagestherethrough in axial alignment with the inlet airstream for directingthe inlet airstream initially only across the refrigerant flow pathfollowed by flow of the inlet airstream only across the coolant flowpath; and means bonding said air center element to said refrigerant flowpath and said coolant path for conductively extracting heatsimultaneously from the refrigerant flow path and from the coolant flowpath into the air center for removal therefrom by flow of said inletairstream through said uninterrupted axial air passages; each of saidflow tubes being an extruded unitary tube with an integral divider webseparating said unitary tube into said coolant flow path and saidrefrigerant flow path.
 4. A combination radiator and condenser apparatusfor a motor vehicle having a plurality of parallel tube passes forcooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in an air conditioning systemfor the motor vehicle and for cooling engine coolant having air centersbonded thereto for cooling fluid flow through said parallel tube passescomprising:said parallel tube passes each including a flow tube withaligned segments forming a refrigerant passage and a separate coolantpassage; first header means communicating with said coolant passages forflow of coolant therethrough; second header means for communicating saidrefrigerant passages with a mechanical refrigerant system for directingrefrigerant vapor through said refrigerant passages for condensationtherein; a single air center commonly connected to each of said alignedflow tube segments for conductively transferring heat from said coolantand said refrigerant vapor; said parallel tube passes having a notchedend including an extension portion with an inlet opening therein; aradiator header plate; said extension portion extending through saidradiator header plate for directing coolant from said radiator tank tosaid coolant passages for flow therethrough in heat transferrelationship with air flow across said air centers; a second radiatorheader plate located in sealed spaced relationship to said firstradiator header plate to form a fluidly sealed space therebetween; astepped surface on said notched end having a refrigerant vapor inletformed therein in communication with said fluidly sealed space fordirecting vapor therefrom into said refrigerant passages; and means fordirecting refrigerant vapor into said fluidly sealed space for flowtherefrom through said refrigerant vapor inlets and said refrigerantpassages for condensing refrigerant in said refrigerant passages inresponse to air flow across said air centers.
 5. A combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for removing heat from coolant in a liquidcooled engine and from high pressure refrigerant vapor in a mechanicalrefrigerant system by directing the inlet airstream of a motor vehicletherethrough comprising:a plurality of flow tubes; each of said flowtubes having a divider member therein and opposite opened ends and eachof said flow tubes having a liquid coolant passage therein and arefrigerant vapor passage therein extending between said opposite ends;said divider member separating said liquid coolant passage from saidrefrigerant passage so as to prevent mixing of fluid between saidcoolant passage and said refrigerant vapor passage; header means at eachend of said plurality of flow tubes for directing liquid coolant fromsaid engine to said liquid coolant passages and for directingrefrigerant vapor from said mechanical refrigeration system through saidrefrigerant vapor passages for condensation in said refrigerant vaporpassages; and an air center element engaging said plurality of flowtubes and having a plurality of spaced parallel uninterrupted axial airpassages for directing the inlet airstream initially only across therefrigerant vapor passage followed by uninterrupted flow of the inletairstream across the liquid coolant passage; and means bonding said aircenter element to said refrigerant vapor passage and said liquid coolantpassage for conductively extracting heat simultaneously from therefrigerant vapor passage and from the coolant passage into the aircenter for removal therefrom by flow of said inlet airstream throughsaid uninterrupted axial air passages.
 6. A combination radiator andcondenser apparatus for removing heat from coolant in a liquid cooledengine and from high pressure refrigerant vapor in a mechanicalrefrigerant system by directing the inlet airstream of a motor vehicletherethrough comprising:a plurality of flow tubes; each of said flowtubes having a divider member therein and opposite opened ends and eachof said flow tubes having a liquid coolant passage therein and arefrigerant vapor passage therein extending between said opposite ends;said divider member separating said liquid coolant passage from saidrefrigerant passage so as to prevent mixing of fluid between saidcoolant passage and said refrigerant vapor passage; header means at eachend of said plurality of flow tubes for directing liquid coolant fromsaid engine to said liquid coolant passages and for directingrefrigerant vapor from said mechanical refrigeration system through saidrefrigerant vapor passages for condensation in said refrigerant vaporpassages; and an air center element engaging said plurality of flowtubes and having a plurality of spaced parallel uninterrupted axial airpassages for directing the inlet airstream initially only across therefrigerant vapor passage followed by uninterrupted flow of the inletairstream across the liquid coolant passage; and means bonding said aircenter element to said refrigerant vapor passage and said liquid coolantpassage for conductively extracting heat simultaneously from therefrigerant vapor passage and from the coolant passage into the aircenter for removal therefrom by flow of said inlet airstream throughsaid uninterrupted axial air passages; each of said flow tubes being aunitary tube having a divider separating said unitary tube into saidcoolant passage and said refrigerant passage.
 7. A combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for removing heat from coolant in a liquidcooled engine and from high pressure refrigerant vapor in a mechanicalrefrigerant system by directing the inlet airstream of a motor vehicletherethrough comprising:a plurality of flow tubes; each of said flowtubes having a divider member therein and opposite opened ends and eachof said flow tubes having a liquid coolant passage therein and arefrigerant vapor passage therein extending between said opposite ends;said divider member separating said liquid coolant passage from saidrefrigerant passage so as to prevent mixing of fluid between saidcoolant passage and said refrigerant vapor passage; header means at eachend of said plurality of flow tubes for directing liquid coolant fromsaid engine to said liquid coolant passages and for directingrefrigerant vapor from said mechanical refrigeration system through saidrefrigerant vapor passages for condensation in said refrigerant vaporpassages; and an air center element engaging said plurality of flowtubes and having a plurality of spaced parallel uninterrupted axial airpassages for directing the inlet airstream initially only across therefrigerant vapor passage followed by uninterrupted flow of the inletairstream across the liquid coolant passage; and means bonding said aircenter element to said refrigerant vapor passage and said liquid coolantpassage for conductively extracting heat simultaneously from therefrigerant vapor passage and from the coolant passage into the aircenter for removal therefrom by flow of said inlet airstream throughsaid uninterrupted axial air passages; each of said flow tubes being anextruded unitary tube with an integral divider web separating saidextruded unitary tube into said coolant passage and said refrigerantpassage.
 8. A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for removingheat from a coolant in a liquid cooled engine and from high pressurerefrigerant vapor in a mechanical refrigerant system comprising:aplurality of flow tubes; each of said flow tubes having a divider membertherein and opposite opened ends and each of said flow tubes having aliquid coolant passage therein and a refrigerant vapor passage thereinextending between said opposite ends; said divider member separatingsaid liquid coolant passage from said refrigerant passage so as toprevent mixing of fluid between said coolant passage and saidrefrigerant vapor passage; header means at each end of said plurality offlow tubes for directing liquid coolant from said engine to said liquidcoolant passages and for directing refrigerant vapor from saidmechanical refrigeration system through said second passages forcondensation in said refrigerant passage; common air center means fordirecting air across said plurality of flow tubes for removing energyfrom said liquid coolant and from said refrigerant vapor prior to returnthereof respectively to said liquid cooled engine and said mechanicalrefrigeration system; and said header means including first header meansand second header means; said first header means including a coolantinlet tank, said second header means including a fitting connected tosaid coolant tank and including means for directing refrigerant vaporinto each of said refrigerant vapor passages.
 9. A combination radiatorand condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle having a plurality ofparallel tube passes for cooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in anair conditioning system for the motor vehicle and for cooling enginecoolant having air centers bonded thereto for cooling fluid flow throughsaid parallel tube passes comprising:said parallel tube passes eachincluding a flow tube with aligned segments forming a refrigerantpassage and a separate coolant passage; first header means communicatingwith said coolant passages for flow of coolant therethrough; secondheader means for communicating said refrigerant passages with amechanical refrigerant system for directing refrigerant vapor throughsaid refrigerant passages for condensation therein; a single air centercommonly connected to each of said aligned flow tube segments forconductively transferring heat from said coolant and said refrigerantvapor; said parallel tube passes having a notched end including anextension portion with an inlet opening therein; a radiator headerplate; said extension portion extending through said radiator headerplate for directing coolant from said radiator tank to said coolantpassages for flow therethrough in heat transfer relationship with airflow across said air centers; a second radiator header plate located insealed spaced relationship to said first radiator header plate to form afluidly sealed space therebetween; a stepped surface on said notched endhaving a refrigerant vapor inlet formed therein in communication withsaid fluidly sealed space for directing vapor therefrom into saidrefrigerant passages; means for directing refrigerant vapor into saidfluidly sealed space for flow therefrom through said refrigerant vaporinlets and said refrigerant passages for condensing refrigerant in saidrefrigerant passages in response to air flow across said air centers;means for connecting said notched ends to said first radiator headerplate to seal said notched ends to said first radiator header plate; andsaid notched ends each having a surface portion thereon extendingthrough said second radiator head plate; and means for sealing saidsurface portion to said second radiator header plate to prevent leakagefrom said fluidly sealed space while fixedly locating said refrigerantvapor inlets in said sealed fluid space.
 10. A unitary combinationradiator and condenser assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:aradiator coolant tank including a first header plate; a second headerplate having first portions thereon sealed to said first header plateand second portions thereon spaced from said first header plate todefine a fluidly sealed gas space therebetween fluidly sealed from saidradiator coolant tank; a plurality of parallel unitary tubes each havingfirst and second passages for respective flow of coolant andrefrigerant; each of said unitary tubes further having a tube endconnected to said first header plate and extending therethrough insealed relationship therewith into said radiator coolant tank; meansforming an opening in said tube end communicating said radiator coolanttank with said first passage; an end on each of said unitary tubesextending through said second header plate; said end having arefrigerant vapor inlet therein communicating with said second passage;each of said unitary tubes extending through said second header plateand sealed relative thereto and in communication with said fluidlysealed gas space at said refrigerant vapor inlet for directingrefrigerant vapor from said gas space for flow through said refrigerantinlet and said second passage.
 11. In the unitary combination radiatorand condenser assembly of claim 10,pairs of said unitary tubes having agap therebetween for flow of the inlet airstream of the motor vehicle; acommon air center located in said gap and bonded to each of said pairsof unitary tubes for conductive heat transfer of heat from coolant flowin said first passages and refrigerant flow in said second passagestherein.
 12. In the unitary combination radiator and condenser assemblyof claim 10, each of said unitary tube passes having an integral dividerweb between said first and second passages.
 13. In the unitarycombination radiator and condenser assembly of claim 10, each of saidunitary tube passes being an extruded tube having an integral dividerweb therein forming said first and second passages.
 14. In the unitarycombination radiator and condenser assembly of claim 10,pairs of saidunitary tubes having a gap therebetween for flow of the inlet airstreamof the motor vehicle; a common air center located in said gap and bondedto each of said pairs of unitary tubes for conductive heat transfer ofheat from said coolant flow in said first passages and refrigerant flowin said second passages therein. each of said unitary tube passes havingan integral divider web between said first and second passages.
 15. Inthe unitary combination radiator and condenser assembly of claim10,pairs of said unitary tubes having a gap therebetween for flow of theinlet airstream of the motor vehicle; a common air center located insaid gap and bonded to each of said pairs of unitary tubes forconductive heat transfer of heat from said coolant flow in said firstpassages and flow of refrigerant in said second passages therein; eachof said unitary tube passes being an extruded tube having an integraldivider web therein forming said first and second passages.
 16. A flowdevice for use in a combination radiator and condenser apparatus for amotor vehicle comprising:tube means with a leading air flow edge and atrailing air flow edge; aligned segments on said tube means forming arefrigerant vapor passage adjacent said leading air flow end and acoolant passage adjacent said trailing air flow end; means forming sidesurface on said aligned segments adapted to be bonded to a common aircenter for simultaneous conductive heat transfer from refrigerant andcoolant passing through said tube means; an extension on the end of saidtube means forming an inlet to said coolant passage; a notch on saidextension of said tube means forming an inlet to said refrigerant vaporpassage.
 17. In the flow device of claim 16,said tube means being aunitary member formed as tubular extrusion having a divider web.
 18. Inthe flow device of claim 16,said tube means being a tubular extrusionhaving a generally oval cross-section with a rounded leading airflowinlet end and a rounded trailing airflow end.
 19. In the flow device ofclaim 17,said tubular extrusion having a notch therein formed in part bya segment of said divider web.
 20. An automotive air conditioningrefrigerant system comprising:combination radiator and condenserapparatus for cooling engine coolant and refrigerant vapor; saidapparatus including a plurality of tube passes each having a refrigerantvapor and a coolant flow passage therethrough; means for directingcoolant through said coolant flow passages; means for directingrefrigerant vapor through said refrigerant vapor fluid flow passages forcondensing refrigerant gas therein as coolant is directed through saidcoolant flow passages; an air center common to each of said tube passestubes having the inlet air stream of the vehicle directed therethrough;said air center removing heat from refrigerant vapor and coolant flowsby conductive heat transfer from said plurality of tube passes; and aplurality of baffles for passing said refrigerant in multiple passesthrough said second passages.
 21. A combination radiator and condenserapparatus for a motor vehicle having a plurality of parallel tube passesfor cooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in an air conditioningsystem for the motor vehicle and for cooling engine coolant having aircenters bonded thereto for cooling fluid flow through said parallel tubepasses comprising:said parallel tube passes each including alignedsegments forming a refrigerant passage and a separate coolant passage;first header means communicating with said coolant passages for flow ofcoolant therethrough; second header means for communicating saidrefrigerant passages with a mechanical refrigerant system for directingrefrigerant vapor through said refrigerant passages for condensationtherein; a single air center commonly connected to each of said alignedsegments for conductively transferring heat from said coolant and saidrefrigerant vapor; and a plurality of baffles for passing saidrefrigerant vapor in multiple passes through said refrigerant passages.22. In the unitary combination radiator and condenser assembly of claim21,a plurality of baffles for passing said refrigerant vapor in multiplepasses through said refrigerant passages.
 23. A combination radiator andcondenser apparatus for a motor vehicle having a plurality of paralleltube passes for cooling high pressure refrigerant vapor in an airconditioning system for the motor vehicle and for cooling engine coolanthaving air centers bonded thereto for cooling fluid flow through saidparallel tube passes comprising:said parallel tube passes each includingaligned segments forming a refrigerant passage and a separate coolantpassage; first header means communicating with said coolant passages forflow of coolant therethrough; second header means for communicating saidrefrigerant passages with a mechanical refrigerant system for directingrefrigerant vapor through said refrigerant passages for condensationtherein; a single air center commonly connected to each of said alignedflow tube segments for conductively transferring heat from said coolantand said refrigerant vapor; and each of said tube passes being extrudedtubes having opposite notched ends forming end openings to saidrefrigerant vapor passage.
 24. A combination radiator and condenserapparatus for a motor vehicle having spaced parallel tube passes withair flow centers bonded therebetween for removing heat from a liquidcooled engine and a mechanical refrigerant system characterized by:eachof said parallel tube passes formed as an extruded tube; each of saidextruded tubes having opposite ends and each of said extruded tubeshaving an integral divider web separating said extruded tube into firstand second passages for flow of coolant and refrigerant vapor,respectively; a single header at each end of said plurality of extrudedtubes including first flow direct or means forming a space for liquidcoolant and means on each of said tubes for directing liquid coolantfrom said space for flow of liquid coolant to said first passages;second flow director means on said single header for directingrefrigerant vapor from a mechanical refrigerant system through saidsecond passages for condensation therein; and means for directing airacross said plurality of extruded tubes for removing heat from saidliquid coolant and from said refrigerant vapor prior to return thereofrespectively to said liquid cooled engine and said mechanicalrefrigerant system.
 25. A combination radiator and condenser apparatusfor a motor vehicle having spaced parallel tube passes with air flowcenters bonded therebetween for removing heat from a liquid cooledengine and a mechanical refrigerant system characterized by:each of saidparallel passes formed as an extruded tube; each of said extruded tubeshaving opposite ends and each of said extruded tubes having an integraldivider web separating said extruded tube into first and second passagesfor flow of coolant and refrigerant vapor, respectively; header means ateach end of said plurality of extruded tubes including first flowdirecting means including a space for liquid coolant and means on eachof said tubes for directing liquid coolant from said space for liquidcoolant to said first passages; second flow director means for directingrefrigerant vapor from a mechanical refrigerant system through saidsecond passages for condensation in said refrigerant passage; means fordirecting air across said plurality of extruded tubes for removing heatfrom said liquid coolant and from said refrigerant gas prior to returnthereof respectively to said liquid cooled engine and said mechanicalrefrigerant system; and said second flow director means including arefrigerant vapor space and a notched portion on the end of each of saidextruded tubes forming an inlet in communication with said refrigerantvapor space.
 26. A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for amotor vehicle having spaced parallel tube passes with air flow centersbonded therebetween for removing heat from a liquid cooled engine and amechanical refrigerant system characterized by:each of said parallelpasses formed as an extruded tube; each of said extruded tubes havingopposite ends and each of said extruded tubes having an integral dividerweb separating said extruded tube into first and second passages forflow of coolant and refrigerant vapor, respectively; header means ateach end of said plurality of extruded tubes including first flowdirecting means including a space for liquid coolant and means on eachof said tubes for directing liquid coolant from said space for liquidcoolant to said first passages; second flow director means for directingrefrigerant vapor from a mechanical refrigerant system through saidsecond passages for condensation in said refrigerant passage; means fordirecting air across said plurality of extruded tubes for removing heatfrom said liquid coolant and from said refrigerant vapor prior to returnthereof respectively to said liquid cooled engine and said mechanicalrefrigerant system; each of said extruded tubes having extensionsthereon forming said end openings to said first passages; said headermeans including a first plate bonded to said extensions at the outersurface thereof; said first plate having a central portion and bent edgeportions on each side of said central portion spaced with respect tosaid central portion; a second plate joined to said bent edge portionsfor forming a refrigerant vapor space on one side of said first plate; atank member joined to said bent edge portions for forming a coolantspace on the other side of said first plate; said extension sealinglyconnected to said first plate for directing coolant from said coolantspace into said coolant passages.
 27. A combination radiator andcondenser apparatus for a motor vehicle for removing heat from coolantin a liquid cooled engine and from high pressure refrigerant vapor in amechanical refrigerant system comprising:a plurality of unitary tubes;each of said unitary tubes having opposite opened ends and each of saidunitary tubes having a liquid coolant passage therein and a refrigerantvapor passages therein extending between said opposite ends; each ofsaid unitary tubes having divider means separating said liquid coolantpassage from said refrigerant passage; header means at each end of saidplurality of unitary tubes for directing liquid coolant from said engineto said liquid coolant passages and for directing refrigerant vapor fromsaid mechanical refrigerant system through said refrigerant vaporpassages for condensation in said refrigerant vapor passages; common aircenter means for directing air across said plurality of unitary tubesfor moving energy from said liquid coolant and from said refrigerant gasprior to return thereof respectively to said liquid cooled engine andsaid mechanical refrigerant system; and each of said unitary tubeshaving opposite notched ends forming openings to said refrigerant vaporpassage.
 28. A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for a motorvehicle for removing heat from coolant in a liquid cooled engine andfrom high pressure refrigerant vapor in a mechanical refrigerant systemcomprising:a plurality of unitary tubes; each of said unitary tubeshaving opposite opened ends and each of said unitary tubes having aliquid coolant passage therein and a refrigerant vapor passages thereinextending between said opposite ends; each of said unitary tubes havingdivider means separating said liquid coolant passage from saidrefrigerant passage; header means at each end of said plurality ofunitary tubes for directing liquid coolant from said engine to saidliquid coolant passages and for directing refrigerant vapor from saidmechanical refrigerant system through said refrigerant vapor passagesfor condensation in said refrigerant vapor passages; common air centermeans for directing air across said plurality of unitary tubes formoving energy from said liquid coolant and from said refrigerant gasprior to return thereof respectively to said liquid cooled engine andsaid mechanical refrigerant system; and each of said unitary tubeshaving opposite extensions thereon forming openings to said refrigerantvapor passage; and said header means including a first plate having acentral portion and bent edge portions on each side of said centralportion spaced with respect to said central portion; a second platejoined to said bent edge portions for forming a first header space onone side of said first plate and a tank member joined to said bent edgeportions for forming a second header space on the other side of saidfirst plate; said opposite extensions sealingly connected to said firstplate for directing coolant from said second header space into saidcoolant passages; and means for directing refrigerant vapor from saidfirst header space into said refrigerant vapor passages.